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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the admissibility of evidence in the prosecution of an |
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offense committed against a member of the defendant's family or |
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household or person in a dating relationship with the defendant. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. The heading to Article 38.371, Code of Criminal |
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Procedure, is amended to read as follows: |
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Art. 38.371. EVIDENCE IN PROSECUTION [PROSECUTIONS] OF |
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OFFENSE COMMITTED AGAINST MEMBER OF DEFENDANT'S FAMILY OR HOUSEHOLD |
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OR PERSON IN DATING RELATIONSHIP WITH DEFENDANT [CERTAIN OFFENSES
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INVOLVING FAMILY VIOLENCE]. |
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SECTION 2. Article 38.371(a), Code of Criminal Procedure, |
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is amended to read as follows: |
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(a) This article applies to a proceeding in the prosecution |
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of a defendant for an offense, or for an attempt or conspiracy to |
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commit an offense, for which the alleged victim is [that is
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committed under:
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[(1) Section 22.01, 22.02, or 22.04, Penal Code,
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against] a person whose relationship to or association with the |
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defendant is described by Section 71.0021(b), 71.003, or 71.005, |
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Family Code[; or
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[(2) Section 25.07 or 25.072, Penal Code, if the offense
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is based on a violation of an order or a condition of bond in a case
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involving family violence]. |
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SECTION 3. The change in law made by this Act applies to the |
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admissibility of evidence in a criminal proceeding that commences |
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on or after the effective date of this Act. The admissibility of |
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evidence in a criminal proceeding that commences before the |
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effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the |
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date the proceeding commenced, and the former law is continued in |
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effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |